New Laws in Maryland – Beginning Tuesday, October 1st

MD State Capitol

Many new laws will take effect on Tuesday in Maryland – this is just a sampling of what changes residents in the Free State will have to adapt to. On Tuesday the legal age to purchase all tobacco products in Maryland – cigars, cigarettes, chewless tobacco and electronic smoking devices – is 21.  Only active-duty…

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Md. Governor Larry Hogan to lead joint economic mission to Australia

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan will lead a joint infrastructure and economic development mission to Australia from September 22-30 with engagements in Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne. As chairman of the National Governors Association, Governor Hogan will lead a bipartisan delegation to Sydney to advance his yearlong infrastructure initiative. This is the first international visit as part…

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MD Governor Hogan Visiting on the OC Boardwalk during MACo Summer Conference

Yes – it probably WAS Maryland Governor Larry Hogan that you possibly spotted on the boardwalk Friday morning in Ocean City.  While on the boards, the Governor presented citations to Dolle’s Candyland – a 4th generation candy company established in 1910 and Piezano’s Pizza, which opened in 1962.  The Governor has been in town for…

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Dredging of OC Inlet to Begin Wednesday

Congressman Andy Harris has announced the start of dredging of the Ocean City Inlet. The United States Army Corps of Engineers was able to secure a corps dredge vessel from their sister district, Wilmington, for the project. That vessel arrived today and will conduct five days’ worth of dredging over the coming week beginning on…

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DNREC Clarifies that Delaware Swimming Advisories NOT Related to Vibrio Bacteria

OLD DO NO USE

Cases of vibrio vulnificus bacterial infections have recently been reported in New Jersey and Maryland, but none to date this year has been reported in Delaware. Due to recent concerns about vibrio and with the approaching holiday beach weekend, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is clarifying that that beach swimming advisories…

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Governor Hogan Weighs In on Supreme Court Ruling on Maryland’s Gerrymandering

On the final day of the 2019 Supreme Court session, the nation’s highest court ruled on the gerrymandering of Maryland’s congressional districts. The majority opinion penned by Chief Justice John Roberts stated that federal courts do not have jurisdiction to rule on political questions. The cases Benisek v. Lamone and Rucho v. Common Cause dealt…

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Maryland Tests Digital License Plates

The Maryland Department of Transportation and Motor Vehicle Administration announced on Tuesday the beginning of a two-year pilot program that will test digital license plate technology. The program, one of the first of the East Coast, is set to replace traditional metal license plates on vehicles with an electronic license plate. MDOT says the plates…

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Maryland Opioid Deaths Decline in First Quarter of 2019

The Maryland Department of Health and Opioid Operational Command Center has released it’s 2019 first quarter reports, showing a decline in unintentional intoxication deaths and heroin-related deaths. From January through March 2019, there were 577 total unintentional intoxication deaths, a 15 percent decreased compared to the same period last year. 515, or 89 percent were…

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Maryland To Offer License-Free Fishing Days

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is inviting anglers to experience the state’s waterways during license-free fishing days this upcoming summer season. On June 1, June 8 and July 4, everyone will get the chance to fish without need for a license, trout stamp or registration. This is an annual tradition in Maryland, taking place…

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Delaware, Maryland Join Multi-state Lawsuit on Generic Drug Price Fixing

Delaware, Maryland along with 41 other states and Puerto Rico have filed a lawsuit against Teva Pharmaceuticals and 19 of the nation’s largest generic drug manufacturers alleging a broad conspiracy to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition and restrain trade for more than 100 different generic drugs. The lawsuit was filed last week by…

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Governor Hogan Signs Tobacco Purchase Age Increase Into Law

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has signed an increase in the age to purchase tobacco products into law. House Bill 1169 was passed by both chambers of the State Legislature last month and increased the age for not only cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco, but also vaping products, which have soared in popularity among the under…

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30,000 Temporary Migrant Workers for Maryland’s Crab Industry Receive Approval

crabs

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and Representative Andy Harris of the 1st District are reacting after the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Labor granted 30,000 temporary migrant work visas for Maryland’s crab industry. In the final rule issued today, Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan and Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta said they decided that…

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Grants to Fund Full Day Pre-K Expansion in Maryland

The Maryland State Department of Education’s Division of Early Childhood Education says it has awarded 50 grants valued at 26.6 million dollars aimed at serving four year olds in high quality Pre-Kindergarten classrooms across the state. 19 school systems including nearly all districts on the Eastern Shore will receive the funding, as well as 31…

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Police Investigate Dead, Poisoned Bald Eagles on Eastern Shore

eagle-image-copyright-wgmd-geri

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and Maryland Natural Resources Police say they are investigating a series of reported bald eagle deaths on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in Kent and Talbot County. Officials say on March 1, six bald eagles were found dead near Route 445 and Swan Creek Road in Chestertown, Kent County. Officials say…

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Delaware, Maryland Police to Take Part in Drug Take-Back Day This Saturday

Law enforcement officials in Delaware and Maryland will both be taking part in National Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 27 with take-back locations across both states. In Delaware, residents are asked to dispose of their unwanted or expired medications at a number of locations in all three counties from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Both…

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Governors Hogan, Carney and Others Urge Federal Lawmakers to Restore Chesapeake Bay Funding

In a letter addressed to the U.S. Senate and U.S. House Appropriations Committees, a number of leaders with interest in the Chesapeake Bay requested further funding, and millions were slashed by the Trump administration. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission Tawanna Gaines, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf,…

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Maryland Lawmakers Raise Tobacco Purchase Age to 21, Await Governor’s Signature

Maryland lawmakers in both chambers of the General Assembly have passed a bill that would raise the state’s minimum age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21 years old. The legislation, co-sponsored by House Speaker Michael Busch, a Democrat was introduced in the House in February. Following the addition of amendments, including allowing active…

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Maryland Lawmakers Consider Background Checks for Private Gun Sales

MD Senate Chamber

The Maryland State Senate is set to take up a bill that would require background checks on private sales of riles and shotguns. The Senate will take up a different version of the bill than the one passed by the House of Delegates. If approved, a conference committee will have to iron out the differences…

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Maryland Seafood Industry Will Recieve H2-B Workers This Season

crabs

—————————————————————-The Trump administration is set to allocate an additional 30,000 H-2B visas this year, positive news for Maryland’s seafood industry. Waterman and seafood companies depend on seasonal migrant workers who legally, temporarily visit the United States to pick crab meat, and then return home to Central and South American countries. Maryland U.S. Senator Chris Van…

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